City comparison
Gainesville, FL vs Tallahassee, FL
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Gainesville, FL are 3.0% higher than in Tallahassee, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Tallahassee, FL would need about $103,000 in Gainesville, FL to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,246 a month in Gainesville, FL and $1,204 in Tallahassee, FL.
- Both are in FL, so estimated state income tax is the same: $0 a year on $100,000.
- Both cities are in the same federal pay area (Rest of U.S.), so a GS-13 step 1 earns $106,437 in either. A transfer from Gainesville, FL to Tallahassee, FL changes real buying power by +3.0%, purely from prices.
- Gainesville, FL: price level 96.7 (cheaper)
- Tallahassee, FL: price level 93.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.7 | 93.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,091 in Tallahassee | $102,996 in Gainesville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,246/mo | $1,204/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $0 (FL) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 19% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,020 | $46,520 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Gainesville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Tallahassee, FL HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Gainesville, FL and Tallahassee, FL.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Gainesville | Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.0 | 78.5 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Utilities | 88.2 | 87.5 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 96.7 | 93.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Gainesville, FL → Tallahassee, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.0%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
78 Strong offer
Tallahassee, FL → Gainesville, FL
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.9%; rent takes 19% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Both metros are in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, so GS salaries are identical. The last column shows what a transfer from Gainesville, FL to Tallahassee, FL at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Real change, Gainesville → Tallahassee |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $61,722 | +3.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $74,678 | +3.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $89,508 | +3.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $106,437 | +3.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $125,776 | +3.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Gainesville, FL | Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee pay in Gainesville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $56,430 | $55,020 | $56,669 (+0.4%) |
| Software Developers | $122,950 | $121,800 | $125,449 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,820 | $61,840 | $63,693 (−16.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,870 | $79,430 | $81,810 (−0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.